* ''Series/SonnyWithAChance'' started off having Sonny (DemiLovato) as a comedy actress, not a musician (although from the very first episode and opening credits it's seen she's got a guitar). That, until a second season episode where she shows she sings, plays the piano and writes music (like Demi Lovato herself). Probably justified, seeing as how it's a Creator/DisneyChannel show, and Disney loves to promote its stars as {{Idol Singer}}s.

to:

* ''Series/SonnyWithAChance'' started off having Sonny (DemiLovato) (Music/DemiLovato) as a comedy actress, not a musician (although from the very first episode and opening credits it's seen she's got a guitar). That, until a second season episode where she shows she sings, plays the piano and writes music (like Demi Lovato herself). Probably justified, seeing as how it's a Creator/DisneyChannel show, and Disney loves to promote its stars as {{Idol Singer}}s.

* Since Rachel Luttrell is a trained singer (and dancer, but we don't really get to see that), one episode of ''Series/StargateAtlantis'' has her singing a song at a friend's funeral, implying that all Athosian funeral ceremonies are done this way. According to Luttrell's audio commentary on the episode, she had to fly to LA to do the singing twice since her first attempt sounded too much like a classically trained singer (I wonder why?) which the character, Teyla, is not.

to:

* ''Series/StargateSG1'': When Anubis' ship crashes into arctic waters off the coast of Alaska, one scene requires Jonas Quinn to swim under water, reroute power, swim to a set of rings and escape. The original plan was to shoot it in stages, until the director found out that the actor, Corin Nemec, is an extremely good swimmer. The entire scene is filmed as a single shot lasting just under two minutes, and actor performs various physical activities while holding his breath underwater. When he finally surfaces, he's barely out of breath. In the DVDCommentary, the director still can't get over his surprise at the actor not needing to resurface for air.* ''Series/StargateAtlantis'': Since Rachel Luttrell is a trained singer (and dancer, but we don't really get to see that), one episode of ''Series/StargateAtlantis'' has her singing a song at a friend's funeral, implying that all Athosian funeral ceremonies are done this way. According to Luttrell's audio commentary on the episode, she had to fly to LA to do the singing twice since her first attempt sounded too much like a classically trained singer (I wonder why?) which the character, Teyla, is not.

* The ballet episode of ''Series/{{Angel}}'' was originally conceived as an excuse for Whedon to utilize Creator/AmyAcker's dancing talent. The only scene that required her to dance was cut from the episode for pacing reasons. It did, however, allow him to display former ballerina Creator/SummerGlau's dancing talents -- and her knack for accents.

to:

* The ballet episode of ''Series/{{Angel}}'' was originally conceived as an excuse for Whedon to utilize Creator/AmyAcker's dancing talent. The only scene that required her to dance was cut from the episode for pacing reasons. It did, however, allow him to display former ballerina Creator/SummerGlau's dancing talents -- and her knack for accents.talents.

* Series/{{House}} is not only the world's greatest diagnostician, he sings, plays the guitar and the piano, and is an amateur magician. Of course, the same applies to Hugh Laurie, who plays him -- except for the "diagnostician" bit (the closest he gets to that is being the son of a doctor). The writers' success at not making it too blatant varies. They have at least succeeded at not making House a novelist (that we know of). Which Hugh Laurie also is, of course. There's not much Hugh Laurie doesn't seem to be doing, so that some of it would rub off on his character seems inevitable.

to:

* Series/{{House}} is not only the world's greatest diagnostician, he sings, plays the guitar and the piano, and is an amateur magician. Of course, the same applies to Hugh Laurie, Creator/HughLaurie, who plays him -- except for the "diagnostician" bit (the closest he gets to that is being the son of a doctor). The writers' success at not making it too blatant varies. They have at least succeeded at not making House a novelist (that we know of). Which Hugh Laurie also is, of course. There's not much Hugh Laurie doesn't seem to be doing, so that some of it would rub off on his character seems inevitable.

* David [=McCallum=] is an accomplished musician (singer, conductor, songwriter/composer and multi-instumentalist). So, in the ''Series/TheManFromUNCLE'' 2nd season episode ''The Ultimate Computer Affair'', Illya Kuryakin goes undercover as [[MasterOfDisguise very disreputable quasi-Latino guitar-playing busker]] to get himself thrown into prison, and in the 3rd season episode ''The Take Me to Your Leader Affair'', Illya plays guitar and sings a duet with the "Innocent of the Week" played by [[StuntCasting Nancy Sinatra]] on the flimsiest of "creating a diversion" pretexts. And [=McCallum=] also wrote the song that he and Nancy Sinatra sang!

to:

* David [=McCallum=] Creator/DavidMcCallum is an accomplished musician (singer, conductor, songwriter/composer and multi-instumentalist). So, in the ''Series/TheManFromUNCLE'' 2nd season episode ''The Ultimate Computer Affair'', Illya Kuryakin goes undercover as [[MasterOfDisguise very disreputable quasi-Latino guitar-playing busker]] to get himself thrown into prison, and in the 3rd season episode ''The Take Me to Your Leader Affair'', Illya plays guitar and sings a duet with the "Innocent of the Week" played by [[StuntCasting Nancy Sinatra]] on the flimsiest of "creating a diversion" pretexts. And [=McCallum=] also wrote the song that he and Nancy Sinatra sang!

** In DinoThunder, Tommy and Jason David Frank's martial arts skills returned. He seldom used a stunt double. In an episode where Tommy dreamed fights with his first three ranger forms, that stuntman was in those suits instead.

to:

** In DinoThunder, ''Dino Thunder'', Tommy and Jason David Frank's Creator/JasonDavidFrank's martial arts skills returned. He seldom used a stunt double. In an episode where Tommy dreamed fights with his first three ranger forms, that stuntman was in those suits instead.

** Besides MMPR actors, a number of other actors in the series have showcased their martial arts talents, including Michael Chaturantabut, Daniel Southworth, Yoshi Sudarso and Brennan Mejia.

to:

** Besides MMPR actors, a number of other actors in the series have showcased their martial arts talents, including Michael Chaturantabut, Daniel Southworth, Creator/DanielSouthworth, Yoshi Sudarso and Brennan Mejia.

* ''Series/{{Star Trek|The Original Series}}'':** George Takei didn't know how to fence prior to being cast for ''Star Trek'', though he said he could learn in order to better his chances at landing the role; when granted the role of Sulu he went out that weekend to do just that. In the episode " [[{{Recap/StarTrekS1E4TheNakedTime}} The Naked Time]]" he finally got to put his skills to practice after suggesting that he fence instead of run around with a katana playing samurai, as the writers initially intended.

to:

* ''Series/{{Star Trek|The Original Series}}'':** George Takei Series}}'': Creator/GeorgeTakei didn't know how to fence prior to being cast for ''Star Trek'', though he said he could learn in order to better his chances at landing the role; when granted the role of Sulu he went out that weekend to do just that. In the episode " [[{{Recap/StarTrekS1E4TheNakedTime}} "[[{{Recap/StarTrekS1E4TheNakedTime}} The Naked Time]]" he finally got to put his skills to practice after suggesting that he fence instead of run around with a katana playing samurai, as the writers initially intended.

* In ''Film/StarskyAndHutch'', Owen Wilson gets to show of his singing talent sometime near the middle of the movie. This iconic scene also pays a homage to David Soul, who portrayed Hutch in the original TV series.

*** ChristinaHendricks appears to sing a rendition of "C'est Magnifique" while accompanying herself on the accordion, at Joan and Greg's dinner party. The singing voice was dubbed but the accordion-playing was all her.

to:

*** ChristinaHendricks Creator/ChristinaHendricks appears to sing a rendition of "C'est Magnifique" while accompanying herself on the accordion, at Joan and Greg's dinner party. The singing voice was dubbed but the accordion-playing was all her.

* Creator/DudleyMoore was an accomplished jazz pianist as well as comic actor, and composed the scores for two of his movies (''Film/Bedazzled1967'' and ''Six Weeks''). His musical talents were referenced/seen onscreen in several of his movies. He played orchestra conductors twice (''Film/FoulPlay'' and the remake of ''Film/UnfaithfullyYours'') and a professional songwriter in ''Film/{{Ten}}''. In ''Film/{{Arthur}}'' his character plays piano to entertain attendees at his engagement party. This trope applied to Moore ''so'' often that in ''WesternAnimation/TheCritic'''s parody ''Arthur 3: Revenge of the Liver'', the hero notices and plays a grand piano...that happens to be in ''a doctor's office''.

to:

* Creator/DudleyMoore was an accomplished jazz pianist as well as comic actor, and composed the scores for two of his movies (''Film/Bedazzled1967'' and ''Six Weeks''). His musical talents were referenced/seen onscreen in several many of his comedy routines with Creator/PeterCook, and from there in movies. He played orchestra conductors twice (''Film/FoulPlay'' and the remake of ''Film/UnfaithfullyYours'') and a professional songwriter in ''Film/{{Ten}}''. In ''Film/{{Arthur}}'' his character plays piano to entertain attendees at his engagement party. This He also performed the piano part of "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" live on multiple occasions, the first time at the 1982 benefit/TV special ''Night of 100 Stars'' with the song's original performer/co-writer Christopher Cross. In fact, this trope applied to Moore is ''so'' often associated with Moore that in ''WesternAnimation/TheCritic'''s parody ''Arthur 3: Revenge of the Liver'', the hero notices and plays a grand piano...piano that happens to be in ''a doctor's office''.office''.

* Creator/DudleyMoore was an accomplished jazz pianist as well as comic actor, and composed the scores for two of his movies (''Film/Bedazzled1967'' and ''Six Weeks''). His musical talents were referenced/seen onscreen in several of his movies. He played orchestra conductors twice (''Film/FoulPlay'' and the remake of ''Film/UnfaithfullyYours'') and a professional songwriter in ''Film/{{Ten}}''. In ''Film/{{Arthur}}'' his character plays piano to entertain attendees at his engagement party. This trope applied to Moore ''so'' often that in ''WesternAnimation/TheCritic'''s parody ''Arthur 3: Revenge of the Liver'', the hero notices and plays a grand piano...that happens to be in ''a doctor's office''.

Community

Tropes HQ

TVTropes is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available from thestaff@tvtropes.org. Privacy Policy